Needle threader



Aug.' s, 1939.` ,L L HOLLAND 2,169,124

NEEDLE THREADER Filed March 23, 1938 Patented lAug. 8, 1 939 UNITED 4s'r.4vr1.=.s PATENT oFFlca i 'asbnrinnuldxuia n. c. Application 4hfclin'lfS, zS-ezl'lz) N0. 197,715

This invention relates to needle threaders, and more particularly to a needle threading device for threading the needle of a sewing machine.

An object of this invention isvto provide a needle threader which may be secured to the head o f the sewing machine and normallyimain` tained in an inoperative position, but may be swung downwardly' to an operating position for engagement with the needle carried by the recip- W rocating needle carrier vof the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a needle threader of this kind which includes a needle positioning means, so as to properly position the needle with respect to the threader in order that the thread may be drawn through the eye of the needle. Y

A further object of this invention is to provide a threader of this kind which is adaptedjto push 'the thread through the eye of the needle in the form of a loop, and to thereafter engage the loop of thread so that when the threader is released from the needle the loop of thread is pulled through the eye with the movement of the threader away from the needle.

A still further object of this invention is to l provide a needle threader of this kindwhich may be attached to the head of the sewing machine,

and which is of relatively simple construction, so

that it will not readily lget out of order and may be manufactured at a relatively small cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a supporting means for the Ithreader which may be attached to the-head of the sewing machine,

and which is so constructed that the threader is yieldably held by the attaching means, so that the threader may have the desired swingingmovement for swinging or moving the threader into engagement with the needle carried by the' sewing machine.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically vreferred to and villustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a needle threader constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, showing the threader in applied and operative position on the head of a a detail front elevation of the threader,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 I- of Figure l, s

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the threader engaged through the eye of the needle, l

Figure 5 is a sectional taken onthe line 5 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a sectional view vtaken on the 1ine, 6 4 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the lower end of the needle, and showing the threader projected through the eye of the needle with the thread looped over-the operating end of the threader,

Figure 8 isa sectional view taken on the line .-0 of Figure '1,

AFigure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the thread projecting member retracted with the loop of thread engaged with the loop holding hook,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view'of the loop engaging hook,

Figure i1 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1, and Figure 12 is afragmentary front elevation of a modined form of supporting means for the 30 threader.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral II designates generally the frame of a threader which comprises a pair of spaced apart plate members It and vi1 providing a` longitudinally extending 35 guide channel Il therebetween.v

`member 24 and the member 22 is provided with a wing or oppositely dared member 2B. A needle socket is carried by an arm 21 which is secured to the frame Il at the forward end thereof in a position` slightly below the forward end of the guide channel I8.

NA- needle threading member Il is carried by the forward end of a slide 20 which slidably engages in the guide channel Il and -this member view` partly in detail 1- 2. isA 55A adapted to engage through the eye 30 of a needle 3| which is carried by a needle carrier 32 y forming part of the sewing machine.

The slide member 29 projects outwardly through an end of the frame I5 and is provided with a knob or button 32. A spring 33 is interposed between the head 32 and the ange of the T-shaped member I9 and constantly urges the threading member 28 to a retracted or inoperative position within the guide I8. The threading member 28 is provided with a relatively blunt forward end and `is of such a size so that it may readily pass through the eye 30 of the needle with the thread T looped or engaged over the outer blunt end thereof.

A thread engaging hook 34 is carried by a rock lever 35 provided with ears 36 through which a shaft 3l engages. The hook 35 as shown in Figure l0 is provided with a pointed bill 38, and this bill 38 when the threader 28 is projected through the eye of the needle, is adapted to engage against one side of the threader 28 as shown in Figure 7. The rock lever 35 is provided with an extension 39 which is engaged by a spring 40 so that the lever 35 with the hook 34 is normallybiased to an inoperative position. 'I'he shaft or pin 3l extends through the upper and lower sides 4| and 42 respectively, of a shield or cover which is provided with a flange or plate 43 engaging against the rear sidevof the frame I5. The cover or U-shaped hood is secured to the frame I5 by the bolts 20 and 23. TheV spring 40 is preferably of V-shaped configuration, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, with the looped or coiled portion thereof engaging about pin 44 extending vertically through the walls 4I and 42 of the shield. The extension 39 of the lever 35 is provided with a curved foot 45 which is adapted to ride on a cam member 46. The cam member 46 is secured to and forms part of the slide member 29 being projected laterally of the main part of the slide 29 on the rear side of the frame I5. The cam member 46 is provided with a slide or extension 4'I engaging against the rear side of the needle guiding member 22`and this member 22 is provided with a right angularly disposed stop member 46. The extension 4'| of the cam 46 is adapted at the projected position of the threader 28 to engage against the stop 48 so that the threader 28 cannot be projected too far through the eye 38 of the needle.

The threader hereinbefore described, is sup-4 ported from the head H of the sewing machine by means of a vertically extending shaft or rod 48 which is secured at its lower end in a clamping member 50 provided with a lug or plate 5I which is engaged by the bolts or screws 28. The shaft or rod 49 slidably engages through a guide loop 52 which is carried by a plate 63. The plate 53 is secured to a substantially U-shaped frame or supporting member 54 by means of reverted edge portions 55 at each side of the plate 53. A spring 56 engages about the rod or shaft 48 and is tensioned by means of a nut 51 threaded onto the upper end of the rod 49 and engagingagainst a washer 56. The spring 56 provides a vmeans whereby when the threader hereinbefore described is swung downwardly to an operative position with the needle positioning eye 26 thereof, engaged with the needle 3| the socket 26 will be yieldably held in contact with the pointed end of the needle. A

A U-shaped bracket 69 is secured as by bolts or screws 60 to the front side of the head H of the sewing machine, and the upper ends 01' the two legs of the frame member 54 are out-turned as at 6| to provide trunnions engaging in the parallel legs 62 of the bracket member 59. A U-shaped spring or holding member 63 which has the outstanding legs thereof provided with reverted or cam portions 64 is carried by the U-shaped member 59 and the cam portions 64 are adapted to be sprung apart when the frame member 54 is swung upwardly so that this frame member 54 will be held in an upper or inoperative position'shown in dotted lines in Figure l.

In Figure l2 there is disclosed a modified form of supporting means for the threader wherein the supporting rod |I9a is slidably engaged in a pair of spaced apart eyes 65 which are formed integral with the frame member or supporting arms 54". The two eyes 65 are held in spaced apart relation by means of parallel bars 68 which are integral with the frame or supporting member 54B. The upper end of the slide member 49 is provided with a head 61, and a spring 56a is interposed between the head 61 and the uppermost' eye 65 and constantly urges the rod 49a upwardly.

In the use and operation of this threader when it is desired to thread the needle 3| the threader is swung downwardly from the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 to the full line position shown in this figure. The needle 3| is engaged between the positioning members A'M and 22 with the point of the needle engaging in the socket 26. Prior to the positioning ofI the needle in the socket 26 and between the positioning members 2| and 22 the thread T is passed between these two members 2| and 22 in a position confronting the forward end of the threader 28. The operating handle 32 is then pushed to the right, as `viewed ln Figure 1, so that the blunt forward end of the threader 28 will engage the thread T and push the thread in the form of a loop through the eye 30 of the needle 3|, as shown in Figure 7. At the same time that the threader 28 is being moved through the eye 3|) of the needle, the hook member 34 is swung forwardly across the path of the threader 28 until the bill 38 thereof engages on the forward side of the threader 28 when the threader 28 is in fully projected position. The cam member 46 during the forward movement of the slide 29 will swing the lever 35 with the bill 34 forwardly to an operative position against the tension of the spring 40.

The operating handle 32 may at this time be released so that the spring 33 may retract the threader 28 and at this time the bill 38 will engage in the loop L of the thread which ls projected through the eye 30 of the needle.

The spring 48 will pull this loop L of thread rearwardly or laterally and then the entire threader may be moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 56 and swung away from the needle 3|. 'Ihe thread T will at the same time be pulled in two strands through the eye 38 of the needle during the swinging of the threader so that the free end of the thread may pass through the eye of the needle. The relative positions of the threader 28 and the hook 34 after the threader 28 has been retracted are clearly tion upon movement of said slide in a projected position, a spring constantly urging said lever to an inoperative position, and a loop engaging hook carried by said lever and engageable against the forward end of said eye engaging men bei' when said latter member is inprojected position whereby to engage within a loop formed by said eye engaging member to hold said loop of thread against withdrawal through the needle eye.

2. A needle threader comprising a frame, a needle positioning means carried by said frame and including means to engage the needle point to positionthe threader longitudinally cf the needle, means vfor projecting a loop of thread through the eye of the needle engaged with said positioning means, means operable upon retraction of said second means for engagement with the loop of thread to hold the thread against withdrawal through the needle eye, a vertically disposed rod secured to said frame, a guide means engaging said rod, a spring engaging about said rod and against an end oi said guide means to constantly urge said rod upwardly, and means swingably securing said guide means to the forward end of the head of the sewing machine.

3. A needle threader comprising a frame, a'

needle positioning means carried by said frame including means engageable with the needle point to position the frame longitudinally of the needle means for projecting a loop of thread through the eye of the needle engaged with said positioning means, means operable upon retraction of said second mefans for engagement withthe loop of thread to hold the thread against withdrawal through the needle eye, means swingably supporting said frame from the head of the sewing machine, and yieldable means for holding said supporting means in an uppermost inoperative position.

4. A needle threader comprising a frame, a needle positioning socket carried by said frame, a slide carried by said frame, 'means carried by said slide for projecting a loop of thread through the eye of a needle engaged with said socket, a levez' pivotally carried intermediate its ends by said frame, a hook carried by one end of said lever and engageable with a loop of thread formed by said meansto hold the loop against withdrawal through the needle eye, a cam carried by and movable with said s1ide,-said cam being engageable with the opposite end of said lever to thereby swing said hook to an operative position coacting with the projection of the thread through the needle eye, a spring constantly urging said lever to inoperative lposition, means supporting said frame from the head of a sewing machine, and

a spring-pressed operating member for said slide. i

ASBURL L. HOLLAND. 

